Expendables no deterrent to thrills from flying fortress

Press, 5 September 1983, Page 22

Expendables no deterrent to thrills from flying fortress

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hans petrovic

BLUE THUNDER Directed by John Badham Screenplay by Dan O’Bannon and Don Jakoby “Blue Thunder” (Regent) is a versatile display of pyrotechnics — but that is about all, for the little plot is only incidental to the manoeuvring of a futuristic flying fortress in the shape of a fearful helicopter. Aptly named Blue Thun-

der, this $5 million chopper is designed as a police surveillance vehicle which, however, is also capable of firing 4000 rounds per minute (65.7 a second), of listening through walls, and has access to all security computer systems. It seems to have been specifically built as an antiterrorist unit for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles; and the film publicity tells us that although no such craft exists yet, all of its various technical abilities do.

So, with a vehicle like that, who really needs much plot — all you have to provide are helicopter chases, with Fl 6 jet fighters and motor cars added for good measure. There also is the vicarious thrill of being able to listen to private conversations and watch a woman,

through a wall, do her yoga exercises.

All such powers given to the police of tomorrow definitely makes me feel uneasy and smacks of neofascism. Even the pilot of the chopper (Roy Scheider) is disturbed about the fact that, statistically speaking, only one innocent civilian would be killed for every 10 terrorists.

Such factors, however, do not deter the audience from thoroughly enjoying what is essentially a very fast action film, and loudly cheering when the bad fellows get their just desserts. Scheider gives his usual, stalwart, firm-chinned performance; while Malcolm McDowell really hams it up as the villain, with a plummy English accent. McDowell has aged a little since the “Clockwork Orange” days and his hair seems to be starting to turn grey. He still has the same boyish face, however, with the potato nose.

“Blue Thunder” also was the last film featuring the late Warren Oates. An actor of whom I never thought too highly, he certainly did give some fine performances during his last couple of years, such as the police chief in this one.